Category Archives: News and Media

AVBFB note: The Association wishes Steve, his family and his crew all the very best and thank them for their invaluable contribution to the protection of our community. ================= The City of Albany, in southern WA, has moved to reassure the family of an injured volunteer firefighter that it will receive full insurance cover for…

While most Australians have a lazy day by the pool or watching fireworks with their families on 26 January every year, we know that thousands of our dedicated Bushfire Volunteers spend the day protecting their local community at no cost to government. So this year, the Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades wants to remind…

I have been away for a week, so I’m now catching up on questions and stories. The first relates to a story that appeared in the West Australian (Daniel Emerson, ‘State can’t afford to adopt bushfire rules’ West Australian (Online), 16 January 2015). The gist of the story is that the West Australian government is…

Volunteering on the frontline is just one of the many critical roles required to fight fires, says Dave Gossage, vice-president of the Association of Bush Fire Brigades in WA. It’s been another busy year for firefighters throughout Western Australia. Images from Bullsbrook, Tooday and Bindoon have revealed the unwavering nerve of firefighters as they act…

Fairfax radio 6PR’s afternoon presenter Peter Bell interviewed the Association Vice President Dave Gossage regarding the great work being done by our proud 26,000 volunteer members. They touched on a number of topics including the recruitment and retention of volunteers as well as the diverse number of rewarding roles available in our invaluable family. Click…

VOLUNTEERS PUT IN 10,000 HOURS TO FIGHTING HUGE BLAZE Local firefighting volunteers contributed a total of around 10,000 hours to control, contain and put out the Bullsbrook Pinjar fire last week. Wanneroo chief bushfire control officer Phil Hay said crews from the volunteer fire brigades were “absolutely worn out” after providing a non-stop presence at…

A framework for the accreditation and training of Level 1 Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessors has been developed by the State Government. As a first stage, the framework provides for the accreditation and training of people as Accredited Level 1 BAL Assessors. During 2015, the framework will be further developed to include two additional (progressive)…

Thanks for your recognition and support Sunday Times! The Association really appreciates it when the main stream media demonstrates its understanding of some of the big issues facing the 26,000 diverse and invaluable bush fire volunteers who provide more than 90% of Western Australia’s emergency services. We’re keen to hear from our proud family and…

Here’s another article that appears in today’s Sunday Times newspaper. It’s great to see comments from Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Wayne Gregson give such praise to our diverse and invaluable volunteer family “on the record”. We know there are many reasons behind why some people are reluctant to join our existing 26,000 Bush Fire…

The West Australian newspaper delivered a great article yesterday about the role our proud volunteer bushfire family is taking in the recent Bullsbrook incident only to be followed up today with a cracking double page spread, editorial and other fire-related pieces in the Sunday Times. The double page article we have snapped below is online…